Port Richey man crashes, ends chase

PORT RICHEY - A man led a Pasco County sheriff's deputy on a nearly 1½-mile chase on U.S. 19 before crashing into another car Saturday, authorities said.

Carl Walter Masters, 44, of Port Richey was charged with attempting to elude and driving under the influence, according to arrest reports.

A deputy wrote in an affidavit that she attempted to stop Masters on U.S. 19 for an improper lane change. But when she flipped on her lights, she reported, Masters accelerated into the center lane of traffic, reaching speeds of 85 mph in a 45 mph zone.

The pursuit ended when Masters abruptly steered into a parking lot on the north side of Graphic Road, crossing one lane of northbound traffic before crashing into a vehicle leaving the parking lot.

Masters tried to run away, the deputy reported, but a bystander stopped him.